The Ghetto Julep

You know that month and change earlier this summer (it’s still summer, right? Cuz in Montreal it kinda no longer is) when I wasn’t blogging? Becuz I was moving? Out of the country? Well, during the first couple weeks post-move — when Montreal’s August air hovered around a blissful 74-degrees-Fahrenheit-(eff-this-Celsius-shiz-up-here)-and-breezy — Sean and I often retreated to our blacktopped backyard for five o’clock cocktail hour. (It’s not just a blog; it’s a thing you can do!)

And during those first couple weeks, when boxes were still in the unpacking and Francophone grocery stores still scurred me a bit, I got into the habit of doing something that I chafe to admit to you good people… I made a lot of Ghetto Juleps.

You all know that I rilly rilly fancybourbon and that I’ve made it my business to tour a lot of whiskey distilleries and that I consider the making of a true mint julep a devout and hallowed endeavor. What I don’t think you know is that on one of my distillery visits, I bought at the gift shop a bottle of Old Honey Barn Kentucky Mint Julep Mixer. I bought high fructose corn syrup and green food coloring because the bottle looked cute. (*shame*)

But honestly, I never cracked the seal on that bottle until Montreal, until just last month. I finally did that because I felt like a julep but didn’t have any fresh mint in the house, and I didn’t know the exact-right way to ask for some at the store. Avez-vous menthe? Avez-vous la menthe? De la menthe? Some days here I get exhausted debating prepositions in my head.

So yes, I used the mixer. I made a Ghetto Julep, and it was so good I started making many of them.

If we can no longer be friends, I understand, but I must own up and repeat once more: Ghetto Juleps are yummy! They’re fun the way a Big Mac or Gummi Bears are fun. They are the Legally Blonde of juleps — dumb and silly and oh goodie look what’s on TBS!

I won’t tell anyone if you make one.

The Ghetto Julep

3 ounces bourbon

1 teaspoon Old Honey Barn Kentucky Mint Julep Mixer

Pour mint julep mixer into bottom of highball glass. Top with ice cubes that you have not bothered to crush. Pour in bourbon. Stir the shame and guilt away briskly.

Tasting Notes

I didn’t specify what kind of bourbon to use in your Ghetto Julep. I mean, honestly, does it really matter? Screw it, make yourself a bourbon blend right there in your highball.

Thank you! Yes, I know the green-goblin-esque syrup looks scary. Just go easy with it, using just enough syrup to coat the bottom of the glass but no more, and I promise it won’t be over-the-top sweet.